Military History

Ernest is listed as being killed in action on 25 Sep 1915 during the first day of the Battle of Loos. The war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Action Near Bois Grenier - 25.9.1915

A & B Coys under Major Merriman took up position in R Des Layes about 900 yards in rear of C & D at 3.30am

The attack which was proceeded by an intermittent bombardment which lasted for 4 days and a concentrated bombardment starting at 4.25am, was launched at 4.30am. C & D Coys were provided with a Stokes gun, a 2” mortar, 1000 smoke candles and 8 catapults with 1000 t? bombs to create smoke on the left flank of the attack. One 18 pr field gun was brought up and placed in an emplacement in trench 50 on right 24c to 25c. Owing to the wind being unfavourable the smoke candles were not used and were set on fire by a German shell.

The 2” Mortar broke down, a Stokes gun bomb burst and set all the other bombs on fire and the t? bombs were set on fire by a shell. The smoke was therefore not a success and rather hampered our own artillery observation. The 18 pr gun and the 4 Batt machine guns endeavoured to assist the attack the former only fired during the bombardment and was not spotted by the enemy.

3.45am: the CO left Battn HQ and took up his position in Trench 50. C & D Coy were heavily shelled from 4.30am to 3.30pm but suffered comparatively light casualties. 2^nd Lieut Andrews was killed.

6am: C Coys bombers were sent by the CO to assist the Lincoln Regt who asked for bombs

6.30am: 2 Lieut Wallace and 24 brigade bombers were sent to assist the Lincolns. Finding that the Germans could not throw 2Lt Wallace returned with the breastwork for his 8 Catapults and with them did excellent work clearing the German trench. Lieut Taylor with the reserve bombers of the Battn also did good work in the German Trenches.

8.5am: A telephone message was received at HQ from the 25^th Bde ordering up A & B Coys to support the Lincoln left, this was passed to Major Merriman and he acted on it about 8.15am. A & B Coys advanced via Emma Post and Safety Alley. B Coy was ordered to remain in the 70 yards line whilst A Coy proceeded to the breastwork.

10am: Major Merriman led 2 platoons of A Coy across to the German trenches just east of Brodoux Fort. The Lincolns were forward on our side of the German parapet, the 2^nd line trench was full of Germans and the rifle fire was brisk. The German bombers were very troublesome. Eventually under an avalanche of bombs the Lincolns retired and our men with them. In the retirement Major Merriment was wounded.

4pm: A & B Coys returned to their first position in the R Des Layes. The operations were greatly spoilt by the heavy rain, the weather having broken on the 23^rd. The chief reason for the failure to hold the German trench seems to have been the superiority of the enemy bombers who threw a larger and heavier bomb further than our men could throw.

6pm: Orders were received to remain in our position for the night.